Page 388 - the-iliad

would have bitten dust before the foe in the days of my anger.
It has been well for Hector and the Trojans, but the Achae-
ans will long indeed remember our quarrel. Now, however,
let it be, for it is over. If we have been angry, necessity has
schooled our anger. I put it from me: I dare not nurse it for
ever; therefore, bid the Achaeans arm forthwith that I may
go out against the Trojans, and learn whether they will be
in a mind to sleep by the ships or no. Glad, I ween, will he be
to rest his knees who may fly my spear when I wield it.’
Thus did he speak, and the Achaeans rejoiced in that he
had put away his anger.
Then Agamemnon spoke, rising in his place, and not go-
ing into the middle of the assembly. ‘Danaan heroes,’ said
he, ‘servants of Mars, it is well to listen when a man stands
up to speak, and it is not seemly to interrupt him, or it will
go hard even with a practised speaker. Who can either hear
or speak in an uproar? Even the finest orator will be dis-
concerted by it. I will expound to the son of Peleus, and do
you other Achaeans heed me and mark me well. Often have
the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and upbraided
me, but it was not I that did it: Jove, and Fate, and Erinys
that walks in darkness struck me mad when we were as-
sembled on the day that I took from Achilles the meed that
had been awarded to him. What could I do? All things are
in the hand of heaven, and Folly, eldest of Jove’s daughters,
shuts men’s eyes to their destruction. She walks delicately,
not on the solid earth, but hovers over the heads of men to
make them stumble or to ensnare them.
‘Time was when she fooled Jove himself, who they say is